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THE ACCRA Fast Track High Court yesterday granted stay of execution granted to the acting President of Ga Traditional Council (GTC), Nii Dodoo Nsaki III, by the Court of Appeal against Nii Yaotey Otoga.

The court presided over by Justice Novisi Ayana, granted the stay of execution, restricting Nii Yaotey Otoga, Nii Tackie Adama Latse, and allies from interfering in the traditional customary position of Nii Dodoo Nsaki III to admit Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, into the GTC.

The court also dismissed a writ filed by Nii Otoga and Nii Adama Latse, to stop King Tackie Teiko Tsuru from holding himself as a Ga Mantse.

However, the ruling of the court has paved the way for the official installation of King Tackie Teiko Tsuru as the substantive Ga Mantse to succeed Boni Nii Amugi II, who passed away eight years ago.

The application for stay of execution was filed by Nii Dodoo Nsaki III, who doubles as the Chief of Otublohum Traditional Area, at the Court of Appeal in Accra.

According to the court, “although Nii Yaotey Otoga (the plaintiff/respondent) had not responded to the application and was not in court, “we have the motion paper, the supporting affidavit as well as the plaintiff/respondent’s claim which is being challenged on grounds of capacity of the plaintiff and the jurisdiction of the High Court to entertain the action in view of reliefs (1) and (2) endorsed on the writ of summons.”

The court said the said reliefs on the face appeared to be a matter or cause affecting chieftaincy, adding that there was evidence of the affidavit, an exceptional circumstance which compels “us to exercise our discretion in favour of the plaintiff by the granting of the application.”

“Accordingly, the application is granted. The trial of the matter is hereby stayed until the appeal is determined,” the court added.

Addressing journalists in Accra yesterday, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru congratulated Justice Ayana for taking the bold decision to endorse the stay of execution.

According to him, the ruling makes his position as the Ga Mantse stronger and called on citizens of the Ga State to disregard the assertion by Nii Yaotey Otoga and Nii Tackie Adama Latse that he is not a Ga Mantse.

“All truth-loving Gas must rally behind the new King in the transformation of the Ga State and the ushering in of a new era of progress and prosperity,” King Tackie Tsuru said to cheers from the crowd.

The King also said the unfortunate act of violence in Accra is unacceptable and so “to those of you who have been injured, my sympathies, to those who have lost family, my condolence.

“I’m asking for peace and calm while we put measures in place to eliminate this conflict. The strength of a broom is in its numbers. Let’s stand together as Gas,” he said.